Ocean, nature, critters, and recreation

Dec 12, 2017

Baby humpback whale surfaces with mom off Cabo in adorable video

By Pete Thomas

Humpback whale sightings are on the rise off Mexico’s west coast, and on Tuesday spectacular footage surfaced showing a mother and week-old calf beneath the surface off Cabo San Lucas.

“The first video footage taken this season of a mother and baby humpback whale. Very exciting!” writes Whale Watch Cabo on Facebook. “As you can see the baby is very small, very light in color and only about 1 week old.”

The underwater footage, captured by a guide named Nacho, shows the mother keeping the calf just above her head at the surface, in close proximity to a small boat.

Humpback whales that migrate to Mexico each winter – from a region spanning from California to British Columbia – are part of the North Eastern Pacific Population. Primary breeding and nursing areas are off mainland Mexico – notably, Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay.

But Cabo San Lucas, at Baja California’s tip, is a prime viewing location during the winter.

Whale Watch Cabo logged its mother-and-calf sighting Monday, and released the video Tuesday.

Humpback whale newborns typically measure 13-15 feet, and can weigh up to a ton. While nursing, calves can gain as much as 100 pounds per day. Adult humpback whales typically measure 45-50 feet and can weigh as much as 40 tons.